The 5 Best Alcohol Rehab Centers in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale and Broward County have a higher concentration of addiction treatment facilities than almost any other metro area in the country, yet alcohol use disorder remains one of the most undertreated conditions in the region. Alcohol withdrawal can cause fatal complications including seizures and delirium tremens — making medically supervised detox a critical first step for anyone with significant physical dependence. This guide covers five of the best alcohol rehab programs in the Fort Lauderdale area, including the top private option and strong Medicaid-funded alternatives.

Important note: Recovery First Treatment Center accepts most major private insurance plans but does not accept Medicaid. The other programs listed below are nonprofit or government-funded facilities that accept Medicaid or state-financed insurance.

Quick Comparison: 5 Best Alcohol Rehab Centers in Fort Lauderdale

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1. Recovery First Treatment Center – Best Overall Alcohol Rehab in Fort Lauderdale

Location: 4110 Davie Road Extension, Hollywood, FL 33024 (9 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport)
Best for: Adults in the Fort Lauderdale area needing medically supervised alcohol detox and comprehensive residential rehabilitation
Payment: Private insurance, self-pay, financing available; does not accept Medicaid

Recovery First Treatment Center sits just nine miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, making it the most convenient private alcohol rehab for Fort Lauderdale-area residents. Operated by American Addiction Centers (AAC), Recovery First provides 24/7 medically supervised alcohol detox — critical for managing the seizure and delirium tremens risks of severe alcohol withdrawal — followed by a 28-bed apartment-style residential program that creates an intimate, recovery-focused environment distinct from larger institutional facilities.

Recovery First’s alcohol treatment program integrates CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care with MAT options for alcohol use disorder including naltrexone (Vivitrol), disulfiram (Antabuse), and acamprosate. The full step-down continuum — detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient — allows patients to gradually transition back to independence while remaining supported. The Joint Commission-accredited facility is A+ BBB-rated and in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and other major commercial insurers.

Why Recovery First stands apart for Fort Lauderdale alcohol treatment:

• Medical alcohol detox 9 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
• 24/7 physician and nursing coverage with seizure-prevention protocols
• MAT for alcohol use disorder: naltrexone (Vivitrol), disulfiram, acamprosate
• 28-bed residential program with small groups and individualized treatment
• Full continuum: detox → residential → PHP → IOP → outpatient
• Specialized programs for veterans, first responders, and healthcare professionals
• 90-Day Brand Promise: relapse after 90 days = 30 additional days at no extra cost
• Same-day admissions available when clinically appropriate

Verify your insurance at Recovery First → or call 954-526-5776

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2. Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC) – Best Medicaid Alcohol Detox and Residential Program in Fort Lauderdale

Location: 325 SW 28th Street (Detox/Outpatient) and Stephen R. Booher Facility (Residential), Fort Lauderdale, FL
Best for: Broward County adults needing Medicaid-covered medically supervised alcohol detox and residential treatment
Payment: Medicaid, state-funded, county-funded, sliding scale, private insurance

Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC) is Fort Lauderdale’s primary publicly funded addiction treatment system, founded in 1973 and now in its 52nd year of continuous service to Broward County. Joint Commission-accredited, BARC operates a 50-bed medically supervised alcohol and substance use detox unit alongside the Stephen R. Booher Facility’s 93-bed residential treatment program — making it Broward County’s largest publicly funded alcohol detox and residential program. BARC accepts Medicaid, state-funded insurance, and county funds, and uses a sliding fee scale so that cost is never a barrier to treatment.

BARC’s alcohol treatment approach integrates CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, family therapy, and life skills training across both its detox and residential phases. MAT for alcohol use disorder — including naltrexone and acamprosate — is available. The residential program averages approximately 60 days and includes job skills training, vocational assistance, and family-centered educational programming in its second phase. Outpatient and IOP services allow clients to step down gradually.

Key services:

• 50-bed medically supervised alcohol detox unit with 24/7 nursing
• 93-bed residential alcohol treatment (approx. 60 days)
• MAT for alcohol use disorder: naltrexone and acamprosate
• Outpatient and IOP step-down services
• Family counseling and vocational support
• Joint Commission-accredited; Medicaid, county, and state funds; sliding scale

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3. Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center – Best Joint Commission-Accredited Medicaid Alcohol Program in Broward County

Location: Oakland Park, Broward County, FL
Best for: Adults needing a full continuum of Medicaid-covered alcohol treatment including medical detox, inpatient, PHP, and IOP in Broward County
Payment: Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, private insurance, sliding scale

Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center, located in Oakland Park in Broward County, is a fully licensed, Joint Commission-accredited facility with over 30 years of experience serving children, adolescents, and adults with addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. The facility provides a complete continuum of alcohol treatment from hospital-level medical detox through inpatient, PHP, IOP, and standard outpatient services — all covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE. This breadth of Medicaid-covered care levels makes it one of the strongest publicly accessible alcohol treatment programs in the Fort Lauderdale area.

The center’s alcohol treatment model integrates medical detox, pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder, CBT, DBT, trauma-informed therapy, and relapse prevention planning. A dedicated dual diagnosis track addresses the depression, anxiety, and trauma that frequently co-occur with alcohol use disorder. Psychiatric services are available on-site, distinguishing this facility from programs that treat addiction without access to psychiatric medication management.

Key services:

• Medical alcohol detox with full inpatient capability
• Full continuum: inpatient, PHP, IOP, and standard outpatient for alcohol treatment
• Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder
• Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorder treatment with on-site psychiatry
• Services for children, adolescents, and adults
• Joint Commission-accredited; over 30 years in Broward County; Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE accepted

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4. Fifth Street Counseling Center – Best Medicaid IOP and Outpatient Alcohol Program in Fort Lauderdale

Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Best for: Adults in Fort Lauderdale needing Medicaid-funded IOP or outpatient alcohol treatment with flexible evening scheduling
Payment: Medicaid, state-funded, sliding scale

Fifth Street Counseling Center is a Joint Commission-accredited outpatient provider established in 1991, delivering evidence-based alcohol and substance use treatment for adolescents and adults in Fort Lauderdale. Its intensive outpatient program (IOP) uses a six-week, flexible evening schedule, allowing clients to continue working, attending school, or managing childcare while receiving structured alcohol treatment. This scheduling flexibility is particularly valuable for adults who cannot take extended time away from daily responsibilities for residential treatment.

Fifth Street’s outpatient alcohol treatment uses evidence-based CBT, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention planning, and integrated mental health treatment for co-occurring conditions. Medicaid and state-funded insurance are accepted, making the program accessible to Broward County residents regardless of income. The center’s focus on recovery as a long-term process rather than a single episode of care distinguishes its approach.

Key services:

• Flexible evening IOP (6-week program) for adults and adolescents
• Outpatient alcohol counseling with CBT, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention
• Co-occurring mental health disorder treatment
• Joint Commission-accredited; Medicaid and state-funded insurance accepted
• Flexible scheduling compatible with work, school, and family responsibilities
• Established 1991; over three decades in Fort Lauderdale

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5. Salvation Army – Adult Rehabilitation Center Fort Lauderdale – Best Free Long-Term Alcohol Residential Program in Fort Lauderdale

Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Best for: Adults without insurance or income who need free long-term residential alcohol treatment with vocational and housing support
Payment: Free to participants; funded through state grants, private donations, and the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Fort Lauderdale provides free long-term residential alcohol and substance use treatment to adults through the Salvation Army’s national network of rehabilitation programs. Funded through state grants, the Salvation Army’s philanthropic resources, and thrift store revenue, the ARC requires no payment from participants — making it one of the most accessible pathways to long-term residential alcohol treatment for uninsured adults in Broward County.

The ARC model integrates spiritual counseling through the Salvation Army’s faith-based mission with substance use education, work therapy, and life skills development. The program is explicitly long-term in orientation, providing structured residential care for adults willing to commit to an extended stay. The work therapy component — participating in thrift store and donation operations — builds vocational skills and routine alongside recovery. The ARC serves adult men; separate Salvation Army programs may serve women. Florida Division locations include Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

Key services:

• Free long-term residential alcohol and substance use treatment
• Work therapy model with vocational skill development
• Substance use education and relapse prevention programming
• Spiritual support through Salvation Army faith-based mission (non-mandatory)
• No insurance required; no cost to participants
• Part of Salvation Army Florida Division’s statewide rehabilitation network

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How to Choose the Right Alcohol Rehab in Fort Lauderdale

Alcohol use disorder treatment in Fort Lauderdale ranges from hospital-level detox to free long-term residential programs. Matching the right program to your situation is the most important factor:

• Medical detox first for heavy drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal without physician supervision. Anyone with a history of daily heavy drinking, prior withdrawal seizures, or experiencing physical symptoms when they stop drinking should seek medically supervised detox before entering any residential or outpatient program.
• Insurance and payment. If you have private insurance, Recovery First — just 9 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport — provides the highest level of alcohol detox and residential care in the area. If you have Medicaid, BARC and Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center offer strong medically supervised options. If you are uninsured, the Salvation Army ARC provides free long-term residential care.
• Level of care needed. The severity of alcohol dependence, medical history, work and family obligations, and social support all determine whether residential, PHP, IOP, or outpatient care is most appropriate. A clinical assessment at any of the five programs above will help determine the right starting point.
• Co-occurring conditions. Depression, anxiety, trauma, and bipolar disorder frequently co-occur with alcohol use disorder. Programs with integrated psychiatric services — like Recovery First and Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center — produce meaningfully better outcomes than programs treating addiction in isolation.

Get Help Today

If you have private insurance and are ready to begin alcohol treatment in the Fort Lauderdale area, Recovery First Treatment Center offers same-day admissions when clinically appropriate.

Verify your insurance online → or call 954-526-5776